My Surprise Mate

Dane moved Kyra’s bassinet from the living room into our bedroom.

As I got Kyra situated in our room, Dane went outside to talk to the guys and fill them in.

He wasn’t gone long and told me our house would be guarded from now until Devin is found.I had this gut feeling there was more going on than we realized.I couldn’t sleep at all, and Dane slept off and on.I lay there watching Kyra most of the night and every little noise I heard had me sitting up in bed.

Kyra woke up around five that morning and I decided to stay up for the day.

After getting us both dressed, I headed to the kitchen to make breakfast.

Kyra seemed to be her normal happy self just like any other morning, blissfully unaware of what was going on.

Unsure if all three guys had stayed outside all night or not, I opened the front door and stepped out to find Zayd standing near the steps, "Good morning," I told him.

He smiled at me as he walked up the steps, "Morning dear.You should still be asleep."

He pulled me in for a hug.

Zayd and Adria acted like parents I never had, and they always seemed to help ease my worries.

"I couldn’t sleep and, besides, Kyra woke up hungry this morning."

he smiled and nodded his head, "well she is a growing girl, and we tend to eat more than normal humans."

"l was going to offer some breakfast and coffee but wasn’t sure or Colby.

"I'll take some coffee," Zayd replied.

"Me too!" I turned to find Ash walking toward the porch.

Neither of them looked as tired as I felt this morning.I led them into the kitchen and started pouring them each a cup while they sat down at the table.

"Good morning little princess," Zayd cooed to Kyra.She smiled brightly at him as he picked her up.

"Did y’all stay outside the whole night?" I questioned them.

"Yes and no,"

Ash started, "Four people were guarding all night, but we did rotate out with three of our best warriors to be able to squeeze in a little sleep."

I nodded in understanding as I handed them their mugs.

"Don’t forget Adria was here periodically through the night too."

"I had no idea she was out here too."

I watched as Zayd and Ash exchanged a knowing look, "What you have never seen is pissed off Adria when her family is being threatened.She wasn’t necessarily coming out to help guard but more to make sure we were doing it the ‘right’ way."

Both guys began to laugh, "she had us stationed around the house so there wasn’t a single side left unprotected, and every 15 minutes we had to switch spots to keep us alert."

Zayd was shaking his head as he spoke.

Dane walked into the kitchen wearing only a pair of sweatpants that hung dangerously low on his hips.

"Did we wake you?" I asked as he wrapped his arms around me and rested his head on top of mine.

He was watching Zayd playing with Kyra.

"No, you didn’t wake me.It’s just time to get up."

The front door opened as Adria came rushing in, have no idea how much trouble you two were fixing to be in." she pointed her finger at Ash and Zayd.

"Holly invited us in for coffee,"

Zayd started telling her as he walked toward her with Kyra, "you know I would never leave this angel unprotected."

Adria sighed, "I know honey, I just...I won’t let them get to her."

Zayd handed Kyra to her, "None of us will,"

Ash finally spoke.

I looked at Dane when there was a light knock at the door, "It’s Genesis and Blaze,"

Ash said as he went to open the door.

"Good morning,"

Genesis greeted as she followed Blaze into the house.

Blaze went straight to Adria and began talking to Kyra.

After setting Kyra on her playmat, Adria came and sat down at the table with us, "Should we have our meeting now or later in the office?"

She cut straight to the point.

"We just need Colby here and we can do it now.No reason to wait." I answered.

"He’s on his way,"

Dane reached over, slipping his hand into mine.

took a seat at the

‘dream’ and received many gasps

exchanging looks the whole time I was talking,

asked, looking

things that just haven’t

squeezed my hand

raised my eyebrows as I stared at him, "Like

he didn’t elaborate friendly, maybe a little too friendly, and when he told us about the prophecy, he said he

to believe that Devin and Nyla were able to not only bring him down but wound him with a

explaining to me their thoughts, "Apollo has never been one to tolerate disrespect from anyone.He’s a very strict ruler.His command alone can even

hurt him," I repeated what Jarek had told

Apollo could have taken them both down without hurting them.His command may not

of anything that seemed odd, but other than what Dane pointed out, I couldn’t remember anything that would make me feel as

think Apollo is a part

at Zayd this time who had

think Apollo is more a part of this than any of us realized.I know this isn’t something you want to hear, but we don’t think he can

Zayd told me gently.

little at the thought of being betrayed by my father, the

do you think you could get in of his

Genesis, I need you to find out as much as you can about this prophecy.Ash and Colby, I need training kicked back up and regular sweeps up to two miles outside the border done at least

a bow of heads, a resounding,

to the door as everyone slowly left, "When your dad calls, you need to act normal.Don’t let on

he sat down next to me.I was

I understand," I replied, not really in the

to the packhouse soon.I have some phone calls to make.Do you want to stay home today, or do you want to go over

the packhouse." I

you out walking around by yourself, especially if you have

at him

to the packhouse, stopping a

to the office next door

had large books in front of them that looked to be hundreds of

"Any luck?"

sat Kyra down in her bounce seat.I’m pretty sure Kyra has toys, playpens, and play

and Genesis both looked at me shaking their heads, "Not yet, but

Adria replied.

read often.I carefully flipped through the pages as I scanned for anything

but the Moon Goddess has appeared in dreams before.But it doesn’t really

stated as she rose

to go get Blaze and I will be back

to fuss just as Dane walked through the door, "Any luck?" he

reading and stood stretching her limbs out,

on the phone; he said he would meet us downstairs for

at the clock hanging on the wall above the door, surprised to see it was already time

explain Kyra’s mood

to miss

downstairs together, meeting up with everyone as we entered the dining

her highchair between her and

has happened and is still happening, I couldn’t help but realize that even though Apollo has been friendly since meeting him, I don’t really know anything about

on Kyra and how she has

didn’t think it was odd until

or how things were going there, Apollo would always quickly

I murmured lost in

we should

worry, but

else's distrust get to my head, but I couldn't help but wonder if Apollo could be in on this with Devin? I mean, I know that Dane doesn’t really trust him, but could Apollo be the mastermind behind this? I didn’t

thousand knots.I didn’t want to believe that Apollo’s intentions had been

the kids to her house so they could take a nap while the rest of us went

is the brains behind all of this," I stated not waiting

in surprise at

things are going there, or the prophecy, he is quick to change the subject or gives me very vague answers in return.Then there is the whole "attack".. that really doesn’t make any

silence once I

pacing the office to gauge everyone’s

playing a part, but whether he is the brains or not I can’t say.I think that Devin is

shook my head as I thought about it, continuing

did the phone

I looked at Zayd.

phone before lunch, and I am assuming or hoping, it was

doesn’t like to talk on the phone much, but he did say he was planning to

scrunched my face a little, "Why not talk

"Vampires are

told me as he led me to sit down, "And

sat down with a sigh, wishing none of this was

and Colby, Dane looked at Zayd, "I spoke with Uncle

continue, "I explained everything that was going on.He’s one of the very few people I fully trust to discuss this

then again, there aren't too many things he wouldn’t do

he needed to

do that?" I

mentioned it before, but now he said he has good reason to do it.Dayton said his loyalty lies with his family and,

was shocked to hear his loyalty wasn’t with Apollo,

been willing to stand beside us without hesitation from the

have Adria

from his chair, "remind Ash and Colby that

left us alone in the office, the silence once